Today In DOD

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, October 16, 2003

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, conduct a DoD news briefing today at 11:00 a.m. EDT in the DoD Briefing Room, Pentagon 2E781. Media without a Pentagon building pass interested in covering this event must have proof of press affiliation and two forms of photo identification and should be at the North Parking Entrance by 10:30 a.m. Please call (703) 697-5131 for escort into the building.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz hosts an honor cordon to welcome Afghanistan Vice President Hedayat Amin Arsala to the Pentagon at 3:15 p.m. EDT. The cordon will be held on the steps of the Pentagon River Entrance. Media must be at the Pentagon North Parking Entrance no later than 2:45 p.m. EDT for escort to the cordon.

The Department of Defense will host a media availability with senators Mitch McConnell, Craig Thomas, Lincoln Chafee and Larry Craig returning from Iraq at 9:20 a.m. in the DoD Briefing Room, Pentagon 2E781. The event will be hosted by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs Powell Moore.

The Chief of the National Guard Bureau Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum will host a briefing on recruiting and retention within the National Guard, and will also provide an update on the transforming roles of the National Guard first briefed in May of this year. This briefing will occur on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. EDT in the DoD Briefing Room, Pentagon 2E781. For more information on the National Guard, see the website at http://www.ngb.army.mil/. See press advisory for details.

The Department of Defense will host a two-day symposium and luncheon in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month beginning today at the Hyatt Regency Orange County Hotel, in Anaheim, Calif. The activities will be held in conjunction with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 17TH Annual Conference. See news release today for details.